Public health officials seeing mumps outbreak across Oregon

MEDFORD -- Jackson County Public Health officials say they're noticing a spike of mumps cases across the state.

Locally, Jackson County has only had one confirmed case this year.

Mumps is a vaccine-preventable disease, usually given to children at a year and then between the ages of four and six years old. Symptoms include fever, headache, and most notably swollen salivary glands. Public health officials said all diagnosed cases are reported to the county, so they prevent the illness from spreading.

"Anytime we see something greater than the expected it keeps everybody busy. You're doing a lot of investigating trying to figure out why you are seeing an increase in whatever disease or virus it could be," said Tanya Phillips with Jackson County Public Health.

If there are complications from mumps it can lead to inflammation around the brain or deafness.